Bangkok - Hundreds of Thais on Wednesday protested outside a tobacco industry congress in Bangkok aimed at expanding cigarette consumption in Asia, already the fastest-growing market for tobacco products.

"We would like the world to see we are opposed to the tobacco industry using Thailand as a base to promote and expand its markets in Asia among youths and women," said Chawala Pawaputanond, a coordinator for the Thai Network Against Tabinfo Asia 2009.

The network gathered 86,238 signatures of people opposed to the annual tobacco industry congress, Tabinfo Asia, held in Bangkok at the Muang Thong Thani Convention Centre.

The annual tobacco industry convention and exhibition has billed itself as a crucial event for companies in the cigarette business in Asia.

"As rules, regulations, and perceptions of tobacco change around the globe, the Asia-Pacific has become one of the world's most important tobacco markets," an advertisement for the three-day event said.

"That's why Tabinfo Asia holds a spot as one of the most noteworthy and important tobacco events of the year," it said.

The Thai government has won praise from the World Health Organization for its campaign against cigarette smoking, which has included such measures as high taxes, gruesome pictures on cigarette packs depicting lung cancer and throat cancer victims, and bans on cigarette ads and smoking in all public places.

Even so, there are an estimated 14.3 million tobacco users in Thailand, or more than a quarter of the adult population, according to recent research conducted by the Global Adults Tobacco Survey. (dpa)